May 6th is International No Diet Day, a day that “encourages people to adopt healthy, fulfilling lifestyles, regardless of size and weight” (per the National Eating Disorder Information Centre based out of Canada). Although it is a Canadian day, I think that everyone, everywhere, can celebrate this day and say “goodbye” to dieting! Life is more than a diet, it’s more than counting calories and avoiding “certain foods”. Like I’ve mentioned many times before, everything in moderation–how’s that for a “diet”?

Here are some statistics I found regarding dieting:

(courtesy of the Eating Disorder Foundation):

• Granted, this was a People Magazine survey (so somewhat biased results based on who reads the magazine) but 4 out of 5 of the women surveyed said they feel insecure about their bodies compared to fashion models. (who wouldn’t? But many of those photos are “doctored” and unrealistic!)
• In 1990, the average age of a girl starting a diet was 8 years old! Eight, that’s right. Can you imagine that our little 2nd and 3rd graders are already starting to think of dieting and actually doing it? They should be thinking about what Webkinz they want or what Wii game they want to play, not how they look!
• Another statistic that shocked me is that 81% of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat.
• Men are not immune to dieting–about 1 in 4 men are dieting on an average day.

So, today, when you look in the mirror, be happy with what you see. What you see as imperfections are strengths in other people’s eyes. Ladies, you ARE beautiful; men, you ARE handsome! Make a resolution that, starting today, you’re not going to go on any fad diet and you’re going to stop picking on your body.

If you have children, avoid talking about how much you hate your body in front of them. Avoid talking about bad foods and good foods and how you “can’t eat that food”. Even at a young age, kids hear it and internalize it. It’s like swear words. If kids hear that it’s bad to say, then it becomes a punishment if they say it. Don’t be like that with food.

Don’t have “forbidden foods” and make kids feel bad if they want one (for example, if you say “cookies make me fat and I need to exercise if I have one” then your child might feel bad if they have one and feel like it’s going to make them “fat” because you think it will). Healthy eating behaviors and self-image are key! Even if your child is overweight, tell them that they are beautiful. Make exercise and healthy eating fun so that they won’t feel like they are being punished for their weight. Don’t avoid food groups or certain foods altogether, because you CAN eating fatty foods if you eat the proper portions!